Destination Marfa is a 2021 American science fiction film written and directed by Andy Stapp and starring Tony Todd, Stelio Savante, Tracy Perez, Richard Riehle, and Neil Sandilands.[2] In 2021 Andy Stapp was awarded Hollywood's Best First-Time Filmmaker The film is inspired by the legendary phenomenon of the Marfa lights which are a popular tourist attraction year round culminating with a celebration in the form of the Marfa Lights Festival.[3][4][5] The film has won both domestically & internationally Best Writer x 2, Best Director x 6, Best Trailer x 2, Best Sci-fi feature x 7, Best Horror, Best Actor x 2, Best Editor x 2, Best Visual Effects x 2, Best Debut Film, Exceptional Merit in Film, International Platinum Film, Best Feature at European Cinema, Best Sound Design at European International, Best Producer, Honorable mention in Athens, Greece, and an Honorable Mention at Hollywood New Directors. Destination Marfa was in the top 5% success rate for selections at movie festivals in 2021 as well as 2022. It was selected at Manhattan, New York Filmfest, Toronto, Canada International Filmfest, Montreal, Canada Independent Filmfest, Los Angeles, California Scifi FilmFest, North Hollywood, California Cinefest, Athens, Greece , Miami, Florida, Seattle, Washington, Kilgore, Texas, International Filmfest in Italy, World Carnival Filmfest in Singapore, Ediplay Filmfest in Paris, France, Dubai, UAE, Colorado Springs, Colorado, West Virginia, Boston, Maryland, Reims, France, India, Newark, New Jersey, Las Vegas, Nevada, Austin, Texas, Italy, Stanley Kubrick Film Awards, Hollywood New Directors, and The So You Think You Can Direct/Act Competition in Delaware.
| Destination Marfa | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Movie poster | |
| Directed by | Andy Stapp |
| Written by | Andy Stapp |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Olivia Kuan |
| Edited by | Andy Stapp |
| Music by | Andy Stapp, Dustin Garrett, Lindsay Boering, Hannah Jackson, and Sol Seppy |
Production company | AStapp Films
Fairway Film Alliance
|
| Distributed by | SP Releasing |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 91 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot
editFour friends on their way home from a Texas cookoff weekend stop at a gas station, where they encounter a fortune teller. They ultimately decide to make a last stop in Marfa, Texas, in the hopes of viewing the strange Marfa Lights.[6]
Cast
edit- Tony Todd as The Mayor (Henry)
- Stelio Savante as The Hitchhiker (Vincent)
- Tracy Perez as Allie Holliwell
- Richard Riehle as Skeeter (Cashier #1)
- Neil Sandilands as Norman (The Man at the Bar)
- Brittany Jo Alvarado as Eden Percell
- Kyle Colton as Matthew Bench
- Marcus Jahn as Erik Streett
- Kimberley Christann Pember as Donna (The Waitress)
- Scot Scurlock as Wilmer (The Man in The Dark)
- Lisa Roumain as Zoe
Production
editThe film was written, directed, and executive produced by American filmmaker Andy Stapp.[7]
It was shot on-location in Texas, including in the city of Marfa and in the West Texas towns of Plainview, Valentine and Lockney.[8] In Marfa, The El Paisano Hotel was used both as a shooting location and accommodation for several of the cast and crew.[9] Prada Marfa was also used as the location where the four lifelong friends Eden, Matthew, Eric and Allie pick up the hitchhiker, Vincent.
Release
editOn November 23, 2020, it was announced that Fairway Film Alliance had acquired worldwide sales rights to the film.[10]
Joblo.com released the first clip and trailer of the film in March 2021.[11]
Deadline Hollywood announced that the film will be released on August 3, 2021, through SP Releasing.[7]
Broadway World announced the film's premiere at the Manhattan Film Festival where it took home the best horror film award in June 2021.[12][13]
References
edit- ^ "Manhattan Film Festival | Screenings |DESTINATION MARFA".
- ^ "Sci-Fi Thriller Destination Marfa Lands This August". ComingSoon.net. May 7, 2021.
- ^ "The Marfa Lights – Visit Marfa, Texas".
- ^ Media, Jayme Lozano A.-J. "Lockney native filming movie about storied Marfa lights". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
- ^ Main, Katie. "Independent film "Marfa" being filmed in Plainview, Lockney". kcbd.com.
- ^ "SP Releasing Acquires Rights to Andy Stapp's DESTINATION MARFA, Starring Tony Todd and Stelio Savante". Daily Dead. May 4, 2021.
- ^ a b Grater, Andreas Wiseman,Tom; Wiseman, Andreas; Grater, Tom (April 29, 2021). "NENT Sets Icelandic Crime Drama; Tony Todd Sci-Fi Gets Domestic Deal; Venice Fest Ceremonies Host; 200,000 Free UK Cinema Tickets — Global Briefs". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ BWW News Desk. "SP Releasing Acquires Sci-Fi DESTINATION MARFA". BroadwayWorld.com.
- ^ "With trailer, new film inspired by Marfa Lights prompts curiosity on local social media". The Big Bend Sentinel. February 24, 2021.
- ^ "Tony Todd's 'Destination Marfa' Acquired by Fairway Film Alliance". November 24, 2020.
- ^ "Destination Marfa: trailer and clip preview Tony Todd sci-fi thriller". www.joblo.com. March 19, 2021.
- ^ "Manhattan Film Festival 2021 to Premiere DESTINATION MARFA".
- ^ "Horror Highlights: THE BOY BEHIND THE DOOR, DESTINATION MARFA, RIPLey's ROAD TRIP". 7 July 2021.